Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton revealed Friday on the “Adam Schein Show” that he has been approached regarding two NFL coaching jobs, other than the one he accepted in Denver.
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Sean Payton tells @AdamSchein there was interest from potential Commanders' ownership groups that reached out about him coaching in Washington D.C.
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Payton revealed he had been recently contacted regarding the head coaching jobs in New Orleans and Washington.
Problem is both are jobs already being held by fellow NFL head coaches Dennis Allen and Ron Rivera.
In addition, Payton voluntarily interjected that potential groups (plural) of prospective owners of the Washington Commanders had approached him.
Not only is Allen currently employed by the Saints, but it was Payton himself who hired Allen to his 2006 Saints staff. Allen then coached for six years with Payton before leaving to become the Broncos defensive coordinator and then the Raiders head coach.
Later, there was Payton, re-hiring Allen to his Saints coaching staff again, where he served seven seasons before taking over for Payton as head coach following the 2021 season.
Rivera has been the Washington head coach for three seasons, and with the looming sale of the Commanders, speculation has arisen about how the new ownership would take to Rivera.
Friday, Payton was voluntarily revealing publicly that he was wanted for these two jobs, currently held by Allen and Rivera.
Had Payton considered how Allen and Rivera might hear this news? Had he considered what might be the best way for Allen and Rivera to learn there are those talking of how those two could be replaced?
Did Payton consider for a moment, if the shoe were on the other foot, and it was he, Payton himself, whom others were looking to replace, how would he want to first hear about this? As a result, had he already privately in friendship informed both Allen and Rivera?
2000 years ago, a Jewish teacher, Jesus Christ, was recorded as instructing his followers, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 7:12
Notice he did not simply say, “don’t do unkind things.” Jesus actually went further and said the way to live in relation to your neighbor is to be proactive, to take positive action in treating others as you yourself would like to be treated.
I was uncomfortable with Payton’s public revelation of how he is in demand. But it also reminded me of how I so often don’t treat others as I would like to be treated.
So rather than simply pointing the finger at Payton, perhaps it could remind us that when we honestly look in the mirror, aren’t we all guilty on this one? Don’t each of us fall short, far short, of seeking to honor our neighbors and treat them with honor as we ourselves would want to be treated?
